The helicopter-borne U.S. commandos that swooped into Somalia in a daring overnight raid to rescue two hostages — an American and a Dane — belonged to the same SEALs unit that killed Osama bin Laden.
“The raid was carried out by Navy SEALs, the same special forces unit that killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in a dramatic operation in Pakistan last year,” CNN reported quoting an official.
The secret operation to secure the safe release of 32-year-old Jessica Buchanan, an American citizen employed by the Danish Demining Group, and her Danish colleague Poul Thisted (60), was carried out at the order of President Barack Obama.
The two were abducted at gunpoint by pirates near Galcayo in the semi-autonomous Galmudug region of Somalia on October 25, 2011.
The Navy SEALs commandos had last year on May 2 swooped down on the Pakistani garrison city of Abbottabad and shot dead the then most wanted terrorist.
The operation had caught the Pakistani military unawares as the SEALs flew in with radar evading helicopters.
